Gas tank cap lock



Oct. 16, 1934. w. H. SCOTT GAS TANK CAP LOCK Filed March 27, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet Oct 16, 1934. w, H SCOTT 1,977,493

GAS TANK CAP LOCK Filed March 27, 1933 3 Sheets-Shee t 2 Oct. 16, 1934. w H. SCOTT 1,977,493

GAS TANK CAP LOCK Filed March 27, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 WEZZiam H. Scoib',

Patented Oct. 16, 1934 PATENT OFFICE GAS TANK CAP LOCK William H. Scott, Rochester, N. Y.

Application March 27,

6 Claims.

The invention relates to a for automobiles and the like.

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple, practical and efficient gas tank cap gas tank cap lock look of strong and durable construction adapted to eliminate the annoyance of losing the cap which covers the mouth of the gas tank and capable of also preventing persons from drawing gas from the gas tank without the owners permission.

A further object of the invention is to provide a form of the invention which will permit the gas tank'cap to be replaced on the mouth of the gas tank with or without the use of a key .15 and which when used without a key will snap readily in locked relation with the mouth of the gas tank but which will require the use of a key when it is desired to remove the cap from the gas tank mouth.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an adapter ring to enable the gas tank cap lock to be. applied to the mouth of an ordinary gas tank not equipped with a standard mouth having slots and'inclined edges for engagement by rigid lugs of a gas tank cap.

Withv these and other objects in View, the in-' vention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying'drawings and pointed out in'the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view partly in elevation of .a gas tank cap lock constructedin accordance with this invention. Fig. '2 is a similar view ofnthe tank.

Fig. 3 is a reverse plan view'of the gasoline tank cap with the lock in an unlocked position.

Fig. 4 is a central vertical sectional view similar to Fig. l with the lock in its engaging position.

Fig. 5 is a reverse planview of thecap and lock, the parts being arranged as shownin Fig. 4.

look partly in section.

combined lugs and latches.

5; ing another form of the invention.

neck of the gas Fig. 6 is a plan view of the gas tank cap and.

Fig.7 is a detail perspective view of one of they 1933 Serial No. 663,049

Fig. 9 is a reverse plan view of the same show-' ing the combined lugs and latches in their unlockedposition. l

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 8 showing the combined lugs and latches my in their locked position. 7 r

Fig-11 is a reverse plan view of the same.

Fig. 12 is a detail perspective view of one ofthe combined lugs and latches. I

Fig. 13 is a vertical sectional view of a portion 5 of a gasoline tank having a neck provided with a. separate adapter ring. V

Fig. 14 is a horizontal sectional view taken sub-a stantially on the line 14--14 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a vertical sectional view of a. gas 70 tank cap lock and a portion of a gas tankillustrating another form of the invention.

Fig. 16 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 1616 of Fig. 15. i

-Fig. 17 is a sectional view of thegas tank cap illustrated in Fig. 15,. the lock being shown in elevation.

Fig. 18 is a reverse plan view of the gas tank cap and lock, the latch members being in their extended position. 9

Fig. 19 is a similar view showing the latch members in their retracted position.

Fig. 20 is a detail perspective view of one of the latch members. Y I

Fig. 21 is a sectional view of a portion of the 35 tank illustrating the'construction of the neck thereof.

Referring particularly to the form of the in-. vention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive, 1 designates a gas tank cap ofthe standard form adapted to be placed on a stand'ard'neck 2 ofa gas tank of an automobile or other motor vehicle. The cap 1 is equipped witha cylinder lock 3- of the ordinary construction suitably secured to and depending from the cap 1' and provided at the top with the key-hole 4 whichis normally covered by a closure disk 5 pivoted at one side at 6, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawlugs, and adapted to be swung laterally'as i1- lustrated in dotted lines in Fig; 6-to expose the key-hole to permit the insertion of a key for operating the cylinder lock to partially'rotate a dog 7.

The dog '7 which is of substantially oblong form is located at the bottom of the cylinder lock and is disposed diametrically of the same and its terminal portions project and are rounded. at the diagonally opposite cornersto form .cam' portions 8 which are adapted. to engage and 110 simultaneously move outwardly resilient latch members 9 of combined lugs and latches 10.

The combined lugs and latches 10 are each composed of a fixed horizontal lug 11, the latch member 9 and a resilient connecting portion 12 operating in a tapering recess 13 in the casing of the cylinder lock 3. The horizontal lug 11 is preferably arranged in a horizontal slot 15in the casing of the cylinder lock 3 and it projects therefrom, as clearly illustrated in Figs.- 1, 2 and 6 of the drawings. The cylinder lock is provided at opposite sides at the lower portion with the recesses 13 and the slots 15 and the combined lugs and latches are preferably secured by spot welding or other suitable means to the cylinder lock. When the dog 7 is arranged in its unlockedposition as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings and is out of engagement with the combined lugs and latches the latch members 9 are at the limit of their inward movement and the inclined connecting portions 12 extend downwardly and inwardly from the horizontal lugs 11 and fit against the inclined inner walls of the recesses 13, as clearly shown in Fig.1 of the drawings. When the combined'lugs and latches are moved outwardly the connecting portions 12 are inclined downwardly and outwardly and fit against the outer walls of the recess 13, as clearly shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. 1

The resilient portions of the combined lugs and latches automatically -move inwardly from the extended position shown in Fig. 4 to the retracted position shown in Fig. 1 when the cylinder lock is operated to move the dog '7 to its unlocked position. The horizontal lug 11 and the inclined connecting portion 12 are preferably constructed of a single piece of material and the lower end of the inclined portion 12 is suitably secured by spot welding or other means to the latch member 9 at a point intermediate of the ends thereof. The combined lug and latch mayhowever be constructed in any other suitable manner as will be readily understood.

The combined lugs and latches which are located at diametrically opposite points on the cylinder lock are adapted to engage a cylindrical depending flange 16 which is connected with the upper end of the neck by a horizontal flange 1'7, preferably formed integral with the neck 2, but an adapter ring 18 may be provided for enabling the gas tank cap lock to be readily applied to gas tanks not equipped with thestandard neck andmouth shown'in Figs. 1 to 10, inclusive. The depending cylindrical flange 16 which forms the mouth 'of the gas tanlaneck or nozzle is'providedwith vertical slots 19 forming passages for the combined lugs and latches to permit the lugs to beengaged with inclined por'-' tions'20 of the lower edge of the cylindrical flange 16. The-cylindrical flange 16 is also provided with horizontal portions 21 and stop lugs 22. The inclined portions 20 of. the depending cylindrical flange. are adapted to be engaged by the fixed horizontal lugs so that when the cap 1 is partially rotated the cap will bedrawn downwardly into tight engagement with the neck 2.

'The horizontal portions 21 permit the rotaryv movement of the cap to carry'the fixed lugs beyond the inclined portions 29 of the lower edge of the cylindrical flange and into engagement with the stop lugs 22 which limit this rotary movement of the cap; The, cap is provided at its inner or lower face with an elastic gasket- 23 which is drawn into tight compressive engagement with the neck by the inclined-portions 29 of the fiange 16 so that a gas tight joint or connection is made between the cap and the neck.

When the cap is placed on the neck and is partially rotated to carry the fixed lugs into abutting relation with the stop lugs 22 the lock is operated to project the resilient latch members into their locking position illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings, and they will prevent the removalof'the cap from the neck 1 as it would be impossible to withdraw the projecting latch members through the vertical slots as the latch members will project sufficiently to permit such removal. Reier.ring particularly to the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 8 to 12, inclusive, the cap 24= is provided with a cylinder lock 25 having a dog 26 composed of inwardly tapered approximately triangular portions adapted to engage arms 27 of combined lugs and latches 28 mounted on the cylinder look at diametrically opposite points and'adapted toengage a depending cylindrical flange 16 of aneck 2. The neck andthe cylindrical flange are constructed the same as heretofore described and the cylindrical flange is provided with the opposite slots 19 and with a lower edge having the inclined portions20, the horizontal portions 21 and the stop lugs 22, clearly shown in detail in Fig. 2 of the drawings. 1 i Each combined lug and latch comprises a fixed horizontally extending lug 29, a horizontal latch member 30 and an inclined connecting portion 31. The rigid lug 29 which may be constructed of two plies or pieces as illustrated inFig. 12 of the drawings is provided with an upwardly extending arm 32 having a terminal portion 33 extending inwardly at right angles to the body portion of the arm forming a substantially L- shaped anchoring member. The rigid horizontally disposed lug 29 and the upwardly extending anchoring -member,' formed by the arm 32 are suitably secured to the casing of the cylinder lock in slots 34 and 35 thereof and the cylinder lock is also provided with lower upwardly tapered recesses 36, as clearly illustrated in Figs. Sand 10 of the drawings. Thelatch members 30 when not undertension are in'an extended or looking position .as illustrated in Fig. 10 of the drawings and each latch member is provided at its lower face with a downwardly tapered nose 37 presenting inclined faces preferably arranged at an angle of '45 degrees to the vertical. The outer, inclined faces are adapted to engage the mouth of the neck or nozzle of the tank at the top of the entrance .slots 19 and when the cap is pressed downwardly upon the neck the inclined faces force the resilient latch portions of the combined lock and latches inwardly and cause the same to snap-into the engaging position, thereby enabling the cap to be replaced on the neck'of the tank without the'aid ofzakey so that'it will be unnecessary to-manipulate the cylinder lock by the key for replacing thecap thereon. This construction forms a snap catch;

- When the latch members are in their extended position the inclined portions 31 are arranged contiguous to the outer walls of the tapering rece'ss'es 36. The nose 37 at the lower face of the loeking'member 30 is preferably formed by extending the metal andbending the same angularly, as clearly shown in Fig.- 12, to form .the tapered nose -'but the nose may be formed in any other desired manner as will:be readily, understood.

The horizontal latch member 30 is provided with the arm 27 having a recess .38 forming a terminal lug 39 and receiving one of the tapered portions of the dog 26. The arms 27 of the latch members are arranged inspaced relation and each extends inwardly from one side of the cylinder lock to a point beyond the axis of the same, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 9 and 11 of the drawings, and the oppositely tapered dog 26 is interposed between the terminal lugs 39 of the arms 28 and is adapted to engage the same for retracting the resilient portions of the combined lugs and latches to withdraw the latch members from their engaging position; The inwardly tapered triangular portions of the dog 26 operate in the recesses 38 of the arms 2'? and are adapted when the cylinder lock is key operated to withdraw the latchmembers from their engaging position and also to release the latch members to permit the same to move outwardly through their resiliency into their engaging position. When the cap is rotated the inclined portions of the lower edge of the depending cylindrical flange l6 draw the cap downwardly and compress the elastic gasket 40 against the neck 2.

The cylindrical flange 16 is preferably provided on its exterior with an elastic ring 42' against which the fixed horizontal lugs 29 bear, as illustrated in Figs. 8 and9 of the drawings, but the elastic ring 42 may be omitted, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 4 of the drawings.

In order to enable the gas tank cap lock to be applied to tanks having a cylindrical neck 41 not equipped with the standard mouth the adapter ring 18 is provided. The adapter ring 18 consists of a horizontal annular flange 43 and a depending cylindrical flange 44 and it is adapted to be secured by spot welding or other suitable means to the upper edge of the neck 41. The cylindrical flange 44 is constructed similar to the flange 16 heretofore described being provided at each side with a vertical entrance slot 45 and having a lower edge provided with inclined portions 46, a horizontal portion 47 and a stop lug 48 arranged as before described and adapted to cooperate with the combined lugs and latches of the gas tank cap lock. The adapter ring may be provided at the outer side of the cylindrical flange 44 with an elastic ring 49 to receive the rigid lugs of the gas tank cap.

If desired a chain or other connecting element may be employed for connecting the cap with the annular flange of the neck to prevent the cap from being separated from the neck; The cylindrical lock 25 is provided with a pivoted closure plate 50 constructed and arranged similar to the closure plate 5 heretofore described.

Referring particularly to the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 15 to 21, inclusive, the cap 51 is provided with a cylinder lock having a casing 52 provided at opposite sides with vertical slots 53 for the reception of latch members 54 consisting of castings or an analogous construction and movable inwardly and outwardly in the slots 53 and urged outwardly'by a curved spring 55'arranged in an annular groove 56 intersecting .the vertical slots 53 and operating to urge the latch members outwardly with a yielding pressure a to form a snap catch to enable'the latch members to engage an interior annular flange 5'7 of.

provided with an inclined lower front face 61 adapted when the cap is placed in position on the neck 58 to enable the latch members to move inwardly against the actionof the spring 55 and to spring into engagement with the flange 5'7 of the neck. The flange 57 which is formed by bending the upper edge of the neck inwardly and downwardly, as illustrated inFig. 21 of the drawings, may of course be of any other preferred construction.

The body of each latch is provided at its inner edge with a notch 62 to receive the terminal portions of the curved spring 55 which have their ends 63 bent outwardly at an angle to engage the latch members, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 16 of thedrawings, whereby the curved spring is securely retained in the groove 56 and maintained in engagement with the latch members.

The latch members are provided at their lower ends with inwardly projecting arms 64 and the cylinder lock is provided with'a dog 65 composed of inwardly tapered approximately triangular portions similar to those heretofore described and adapted to engage the arms 64 of the latch memhere. The arm 64 of each latch member is provided with a recess 66 forming a terminal lug 67 and receiving one of the tapered portions of the dog 65. The said arms 64 of the latch memhere are arranged in spaced relation and each extends inwardly from one side of the cylinder lock to a point beyond the axis of the same, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 18 and 19 of the draw ings, and the oppositely tapered dog 65 is interposed between the terminal lugs 67 and is adapted to engage the same for retracting the latch members against the action of the curved spring 55 to withdraw the latch members from their engaging position. The inwardly tapered triangular portions of the dog 65 operate in the recesses 36 of the arms 64 and are adapted when the cylinder lock is operated to withdraw the latch members from their engaging position and also to release the latch members to permit the same to be moved outwardly by the spring 55 to their engaging position.

The arms and the dog are preferably covered and protected by a cylinder shell 68 suitably secured to the lower end of the lock casing and ar ranged as clearly illustrated in Figs. 15 and 17 of the drawings, the said shell 68 being omitted from Figs. 18 and 19 in order to illustrate the dog and the coacting portions of the latch members.

The form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 15 to 21, inclusive, has the advantage of both a low cost of manufacture and great strength, durability and long life.

What is claimed is:--

1. A gas tank cap lock including a cap adapted to be arranged on the neck of a gas tank, a cylinder lock secured to the cap and depending therefrom and provided with a rotary dog having oppositely projecting engaging portions and vertically disposed latch members guided on the cylinder lock and movable inwardly and outwardly and yieldably urged outwardly to form a snap catch, said latch members having inwardly projectinghorizontal arms cooperating with the engaging portions of the dog for moving the latch members inwardly.

2. A gas tank cap lock including a cap adapted to be arranged on the neck of a gas tank, a cylinder lock secured to the cap and depending therefrom and provided with a rotary dog having oppositely projecting engaging portions, and vertically disposed latch members slidable inlilowardly and outwardly on the cylinder lock and guided by the same and provided with projecting horizontal arms and each having a bevelled nose at the outer face and yieldably urged outwardly to form a snap catch, said arms cooperating with the projecting portions of the dog for moving the latch members inwardly.

3. A gas tank cap lock including a cap adapted to be arranged on the neck of a gas tank, a cylinder lock secured to and depending from the cap and provided at opposite sides with vertical slots and having a horizontal peripheral groove intersecting the slots, said lock being also provided with a rotary dog having oppositely projecting engaging portions, latch members slidable inwardly and outwardly in theslots of the cylinder lock and provided at their inner edges with recesses and having inwardly extending arms cooperating with the engaging portions of the dog for moving the latch members inwardly, and a spring located in the groove of the cylinder lock and having terminal portions arranged in the recesses of the latch members for urging the latter outwardly.

4. In combination with a gas tank having a neck provided With an internal depending portion spaced from the inner side walls of the neck, a gas tank cap lock adapted to fit on the neck of the tank, a locking device depending from the cap including a casing having oppositely disposed slots therein, latch members which are separated and unconnected with relation to each other and having their outer ends slidable through said slots into and out of engagement with the lower edge of said depending portion of the neck, said latch members being slidable outwardly to engage said lower edge of said neck depending portion to lock the cap on the neck and slidable inwardly away from said lower edge of said depending portion to permit removal of the cap from the neck, and a rotary element included in said locking device and located between the inner ends of the latch members to operate upon the inner ends of the latch members to actuate the same in one direction.

5. In combination with a gas tank having a neck provided with an internal depending portion, a gas tank cap lock including a cap adapted to be arranged on'the neck of the gas tank, a lock including a casing secured to'and depending from the cap and provided at opposite sides with slots, latch members having portions slidable inwardly and outwardly in the slots of said lock easing into and out of engagement with said depending portion of the neck and having oppositely disposed recesses and diagonally disposed inwardly directed arms at their inner ends, means for urging the latch members outwardly, and a rotary dog having oppositely projecting engaging portions lying within said oppositely disposed recesses at the inner ends of said latch members for engagement with said arms at the inner ends of the latch members to draw the latch members inwardly against said outwardly urging means for locking engagement with said depending portion of. theneck. 6. In combination with a gas tank having a neck provided with an internal depending. por tion, a gas tank cap lock including a cap adapted to be arranged on the neck of the gas tank, a lock including a casing secured to and depending from the cap and provided at opposite sides with slots, latch members having portions slidable in.- wardly and outwardly in the slots of said lock casing into and out of engagement with said depending portion of the neck and having oppositely disposed. recesses and diagonally disposed inwardly directed arms at their inner ends, means for urging the latch members outwardly, and a rotary dog having oppositely projecting substantially triangular shaped connected engaging portions lying within said oppositely disposed recesses of the arms of the latch members for engagement with said arms to draw the latch member inwardly against said outwardly urging means from locking engagement with said depending portion of the neck.

WILLIAM H. SCOTT. 

